What is Gond Katira and 5 ways of using it in summers

A crystalline herb, which is also known as Tragacanth gum is a natural gum obtained from the saps of locoweed plants. It naturally emanates in the form of twisted crystals, which swell up when mixed with water. Unfortunately, people are unaware of its health benefits and how it can help in hydration. So today, in this article, we will talk about its numerous health benefits and ways it can be used in summer. Read more to find out. (Images courtesy: iStock)

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The name of this gum is something that most people might have heard from their Nanis and Dadis and because of it, many people still don’t know much about this gum. It is quite surprising to know that this gum has due properties, which means that it can cool as well warm the body in summers and winters respectively. For the same reason, Gond Katira has been used for ages throughout the year. To use in summers, gond katira is soaked in water for about 2-3 hours. This is done so that it can swell up nicely.

In Ayurveda, it holds a special place due to its medicinal properties and has been used to cure various diseases like cough and dysentery. This tasteless and odourless gum changes its texture and appearance just by soaking in water/milk to white jelly from a crystal.

Gond Katira is known to control nose-bleeding caused in summers due to excessive heat while decreasing the temperature of the body. Not just that, it increases immunity while helping with the proper bowel movements and maintaining a healthy digestive system. One of the most surprising health benefits of this gum is that it can cure both diarrhoeas as well as constipation which no ingredient can do.

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To make this kulfi, just soak 1-2 tsp of Gond Katira in water to soften it. Next, boil 1 litre of milk and mix your favourite dry fruits in it. Let it simmer for 10-15 minutes on slow flame. When the milk is 1/3 remaining, add 1/2 cup condensed milk in it. Stir well and turn off the flame. Let it cool down and then add gond katira in it. Stir well. Take Kulfi moulds and add this mixture in each mould and let them set in the refrigerator for 2-3 hours and your Kulfi will be ready to eat.

Soak about 2-4 tbsp of gond katira in water and when it swells up, take a large bowl and add it in that bowl. Mix some dry fruits along with a little sugar syrup, rose water and rooh afza. Add 1 tsp of soaked sabja seeds or chia seeds, and just stir lightly. Enjoy as a dessert.

This smoothie can be made with just curd, soaked gond katira, a pinch of black salt and some mint leaves. In a blender jar, add 1 cup curd with 1/4 cup water and 2 tsp soaked gond katira with a few mint leaves and black salt. Blend them well to make a smoothie and drink it up immediately. One can also, add some crushed ice cubes in it as per their convenience.

To make this kacchi lassi, add 1 cup of chilled water in a jug along with 50 ml of chilled milk, 1 tsp rooh afza or sugar syrup, and 1 tsp soaked gond katira. It need not be blended, just give a nice stir and enjoy this refreshing kacchi lassi. It will provide you instant relief from heatstroke.

This is one of the simplest recipes that can be made in summer. All it requires is to soak 1 tsp of gond katira in water and add when it transforms to jelly, add in 1 cup of chilled curd with some powdered khand or brown sugar. Mix and enjoy as a dessert. It will not only fill your stomach but provide relief from the scorching sun.